Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive tackle Landon Robinson didn’t get on the field in what could have been his first NFL game, but he still managed to turn heads before kickoff.
Robinson was inactive last Sunday, yet he showed up to Paycor Stadium in a military uniform and quickly became one of the most talked-about names from pregame. As he prepares for Week 2 against the Houston Texans, he’s expected to wear his Marine Corps studs again. He made it clear in a recent interview that the look isn’t a one-time thing.
The Navy alum said the outfit was a deliberate choice for Week 1 and tied it back to what he used to do at the Naval Academy.
"I just thought it would be really cool [for] Week 1. At the Academy, we'd always wear our uniforms when we showed up for games.
We march in together, we're sophisticated and we're all one unit. So I wanted to do that for Week 1."
Robinson, who is a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps Reserve, said the tradition is about more than just style. He sees it as a way to recognize military members past, present, and future, and he plans to keep doing it throughout his NFL career.
He also explained another detail from his pregame routine: he carried all his bags in his left hand. That’s a military custom, since service members need to keep their right arm free to salute higher-ranking superiors when they cross paths.
Even though he didn’t play in Week 1, Robinson doesn’t seem bothered by it. He’s focused on learning from defensive tackles like Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen, and he’s taking the chance to absorb as much as he can.
There’s a real possibility he gets his first shot on Sunday. B.J.
Hill is questionable with an Achilles injury, which could open a spot in the rotation if the Bengals decide to be cautious and keep the veteran out. If that doesn’t happen, Robinson will still have his pregame statement to fall back on.
The seventh-round rookie has plenty of believers, too. He was a first-team All-American at the Naval Academy, where football came with a level of responsibility and structure that most college players never have to deal with. And unlike many of the top prospects around him, he wasn’t coming in with a flashy NIL deal attached.
Even with 2024 second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr. recording a sack against the Bucs, there’s still a strong view that Robinson is the better player and has more room to grow. The argument centers on his ability to play nose tackle, something Jenkins can’t do, along with Robinson’s athletic edge and pass-rushing upside.
For now, the Bengals are still waiting to see what Robinson can do on the field. But even before his first snap, he’s already made sure people know exactly who he is.
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